Vehicle



(No Model.)

F. W. ZIMMER.

VFHIGLE.

I [\Ilillll llllll'lll/z Patented May 1, 1894.

NrTED PATENT OFFICE.-

FREDERICK WV. ZIMMER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 518,983, dated May 1,1894.

Application filed January 20,-1894. Serial No. 497,489. (No model.)

- of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its objects to improve the construction of that class of carriages shown in Letters Patent Nos. 394,239

and 505,015 heretofore issued to me and particularly adapted for physicians use, and it consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanyingdrawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carriage containing my improvement; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line x-oc of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line y-y looking toward the front; Fig. 4, a section on the line z-z of Fig: 3; Fig. 5, a side view of the dash, partly in section.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

The body 1 of the vehicle is constructed as usual or preferably as shownin my previous patent No. 505,015 and is provided with sliding doors 2 at the sides guided and supported as shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, the top side rail 3 of the vehicle is provided with a longitudinal groove 4 in which operates the upper end of the door 2, the latter having attached to its upper end a strip 5 composed of rubbercloth or belting, or similar material, slightly wider than the topof the door to prevent contact between the top of the door and the sides of the grooves. Secured to the inner side of the door are small rollers 6 resting upon rails 7 provided with a covering 8 of rubber-cloth or similar material, said rails being attached to the sides of the vehicle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Secured to the top rail of the vehicle frame above the supporting rail 7 is a strip 9 of rubber or similar material against which the rollers 6 may strike when the door is slightly tilted, in closing for instance. The lower end of the door is provided with a groove in which projects a strip 10 of rubber-cloth fastened to the bottom of the door-opening and the door is further provided with a suitable catch cooperating with the dash and having a handle 11 by which it maybe unfastened and slid on the rollers. This construction prevents all rattling when the carriage is in motion and by the employment-of therubloer strip 9 at the top, the doormay be moved backand forth without excessive Wear and without causing any rattling.

The dash 12 is supported and connected with the front portion of the top by means of the iron brace 13 fastened to its-inner side and extending out and upwardly substantially in the center of the vehicle and the window sashes 14. and 15 are arranged to slide between the dash and the top rail; said sashes being provided at their lower ends with grooves into which project rubber strips 16, while their upper ends are guided by strips 17 of rubber; small rubber strips'lS being provided on the upper rail between the strips 17, for engaging the tops of the windows if they are tilted slightly in opening 'or closing them.

Suitable apertures 19 are provided in the top of the dash through which the reins are adapted to pass when the windows are closed and in order that the driver may have. the reins free and also have access to the horse suddenly if desired, Iprovide the window 15 with means for opening it'automatically, under the control of the driver or occupant of the vehicle. In the present embodiment of this portion of my invention and in order that the window 15 may slide easily, I provide it with four or more rollers 20 arranged onthe upper and lower sides, as shown, and connect it with the opposite side of the vehicle by means of a spring or springs 21 of metal or extends from the spring catch 22 to the foot rail in the bottom of the vehicle in conven- I ient position for operation by the drivers foot,

as shown in Fig. 5, so that hemay at any time operate the spring bolt 22 releasing the sash and allowing the window to open and release the reins. Connected to the bottom of the window 15 is a curved arm 25 to which is attached a cord 26 passing around a suitable guide pulley on the dash and serving as a means for-closing the window from the drivers side of the vehicle, the object in extending the arm horizontally beneath the rein apertures being to draw from as near the outer side of the window as possible in order to prevent tilting and also so as not to interfere with the reins by moving across the apertures therefor in the dash. The construction and arrangement of the springs for opening the window 15 may be of course variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. The rubber of which the guiding strips are composed is the ordinary rubber- .cloth, such as is used for belting, 650., em-

bodying a lbaseof fabric and a filling or covering of rubber, and I prefer this by reason of its cheapnessand capability of being readilysecured by tacks or cement.

It will be understood that the door could bearranged to slide insideof thebody of the vehicle if desired, the same characteristic featuresrbeing preserved; also that the inventions herein contained could be applied :to

anyother vehicle than one particularly adapted for physicians use, as milk or other delivery wagons.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with the vehicle body having the door-opening, the rubber covered rail on theside near the top, the top and the rubber strip above it, of the door guided at the upper and lower ends on the body and having the rollers on the inner side near the top resting upon the rail on the body, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the vehicle body having the door-opening the grooved top rail, the doorsnpporting rail on the side near the top,the rubber strip above it, and the rubber stripat the bottom of the door opening, of

the door having the groove in its lower edge, the laterally extending rubber strip on the top of the door operating in the grooved top rail, and the rollers on the side of the door resting on the door-supporting rail, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the vehicle body, the dash having the rubber strips on top, the front top rail, the rubber strips thereon forming grooves, and the rubber strips in the bottom of said grooves, of the windows having the grooves entered by the strips on the dash and guided by the strips on the top rail, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the vehicle body, and the dash, having the rein apertures, of the sliding window adapted to cover said apertures when closed, a spring foropening the window and uncovering the apertures, and a catch for holding the window closed against the tension of the spring, substantially as described. 7

5. The combination with the vehicle body, and the dash having the rein apertures, of the sliding window adapted to cover said apertures when closed, a spring for opening the window, a catch for retaining the Window closed against the tension of the spring, the arm connected to the windowand extending beneath the rein apertures and the cord connected thereto, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the vehicle body and the dash having the rein apertures, of the sliding window adapted to cover said apertures when closed, a spring for opening the window, a catch for retaining the window closed against the tension of the spring, and a connection extending from the catch-to the bottom of the vehicle in position to be operated by the drivers foot, snbstantiallyas described.

FREDERICK w. ZIMMER.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK F. CHURCH, MARY F. W. CHURCH. 

